Office Personnel Devotion
The alarm wrestles one from a sound sleep to face another day. As soon as the feet hit the floor the decisions begin – tops must be coordinated with bottoms, shoes with outfits and jackets with the weather. Breakfast decisions can range from “Do I?” to “Is there anything other than cold pizza?” Schedules for the day are reviewed and anticipated – meetings, lunches packed, and after work activities accommodated. Families to be loved and cared for create opportunities for chaos and joy. Life is hectic at 7:00 AM.
All too soon it is time to start the engine and drive to church for another day as an “office personnel.” The drive provides opportunity for last minute schedule review, “to-do List” reminders and prayer. The day ahead promises to be one of routine or panic – joy or challenge – anticipation or antacid. The only absolute certainty about working for the church is that each day will be different from the last.
For working with the church provides one with an opportunity to affect souls for an eternity. Each phone call can have the potential of a person in crisis, a person on the brink of spiritual death, a person reaching out for comfort and Christian compassion. The “office personnel” is the front line, the first contact with those hurting. Her demeanor and attitude, her compassion and empathy, her answers and direction have the potential to bring a soul closer to Christ. That is awesome.
Each phone call also has the potential of being a salesperson or solicitor looking to make a sale, close a deal or waste time. The “office personnel” must have the ability to politely and firmly say “No, thanks – God Bless.” This is no small service.
Besides phones there are projects to be copied, supplies to be ordered, e-mails to be read and replied to, schedules to coordinate, and visitors to greet. When copy machines, computers, and door bells cooperate, life is good. When paper jams, stalled hard drives and incessant door bells ring, life is less than ideal.
When people outside of the church define “church” and “church professions” much is made of the visible positions of pastor, principal or teacher. Not many “office personnel” positions take first place in the ranking of church positions. Yet, without the competent “office personnel” the pastor, principal, teacher, etc. would not be able to function to peak ability. It is the “office personnel” that insures the church operates in an efficient and Godly manner.
St. Paul instructed the church at Corinth in that concept when he wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12: 27-28)
The body of Christ needs members who are helpers and administrators (even workers of miracles) just as the body of Christ needs apostles, prophets and teachers. I thank and praise God that He has provided for talented and gifted “office personnel” to uplift and build up the body.
The alarm wrestles one from a sound sleep to face another day. As soon as the feet hit the floor the decisions begin – tops must be coordinated with bottoms, shoes with outfits and jackets with the weather. Breakfast decisions can range from “Do I?” to “Is there anything other than cold pizza?” Schedules for the day are reviewed and anticipated – meetings, lunches packed, and after work activities accommodated. Families to be loved and cared for create opportunities for chaos and joy. Life is hectic at 7:00 AM.
All too soon it is time to start the engine and drive to church for another day as an “office personnel.” The drive provides opportunity for last minute schedule review, “to-do List” reminders and prayer. The day ahead promises to be one of routine or panic – joy or challenge – anticipation or antacid. The only absolute certainty about working for the church is that each day will be different from the last.
For working with the church provides one with an opportunity to affect souls for an eternity. Each phone call can have the potential of a person in crisis, a person on the brink of spiritual death, a person reaching out for comfort and Christian compassion. The “office personnel” is the front line, the first contact with those hurting. Her demeanor and attitude, her compassion and empathy, her answers and direction have the potential to bring a soul closer to Christ. That is awesome.
Each phone call also has the potential of being a salesperson or solicitor looking to make a sale, close a deal or waste time. The “office personnel” must have the ability to politely and firmly say “No, thanks – God Bless.” This is no small service.
Besides phones there are projects to be copied, supplies to be ordered, e-mails to be read and replied to, schedules to coordinate, and visitors to greet. When copy machines, computers, and door bells cooperate, life is good. When paper jams, stalled hard drives and incessant door bells ring, life is less than ideal.
When people outside of the church define “church” and “church professions” much is made of the visible positions of pastor, principal or teacher. Not many “office personnel” positions take first place in the ranking of church positions. Yet, without the competent “office personnel” the pastor, principal, teacher, etc. would not be able to function to peak ability. It is the “office personnel” that insures the church operates in an efficient and Godly manner.
St. Paul instructed the church at Corinth in that concept when he wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12: 27-28)
The body of Christ needs members who are helpers and administrators (even workers of miracles) just as the body of Christ needs apostles, prophets and teachers. I thank and praise God that He has provided for talented and gifted “office personnel” to uplift and build up the body.